Automatic alarm.



C. E. EGAN.

AUTOMATIC ALARM.

1,178,387. APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 17. 1915. patenied Apr.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. E. EGAN.

AUTOMATIC ALARM.

-APPL|\CATION FILED JUNE 17. 1915.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TED STATE% PATENT CI-IARLES E. EGAN, OF. CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA,ASSIGNOR- OF ONE-TI-IIBD TO ELLET S. BAUMGAR'INER, OF MORGANTOWN, VESTVIRGINIA. AND ONE-THIRD TO CHAR-LES A. SEMBOWER. OF CLARKSBURG, WESTVIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC ALARM.

Charleston, in the county of Kanawha and State of \Vest Virginia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Alarms; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relatesto alarms thermally controlled.

Theprincipal object of this invention is the provision of athermostatically controlled alarm which will be particularlyadvantageous to pomologists and florists to warn them in the event ofany sudden temperature drop so that damage to the frult or flowers maythus be prevented. V

Another and further object is to provide a spring actuated member inconnection with a thermostat which'normally is in0peratively disposedbut when the temperature drops to a predetermined point, is released toactuate the alarm with which it is operatively connected.

Another and further object is toprovide a novel and efficient meanswherein said alarm may be released at a predetermined temperature.

Another and further object is to provide a thermally controlled alarm ofthe charac ter enumerated which is simple, efficient and one that may bereadily and conveniently.

installed. I I

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in certainnovel details of construction, combination and arrangementof parts aswill be more particularly hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are indicatedby similar reference characters: Figure 1 is a top plan view of thealarm casing and thermostat mechanism diagrammatically illustrated thelatteras operatively arranged with respect to the former; Fig. 2 is afront elevation of an alarm casing and thermostat mechanism illustratingdiagrammatically the relative arrangement of the latter with respect tothe former when operatively 7 associated; Fig.3 is a top plan view ofthe Patented Apr. i, 1918.

Application filed June 17, 1915. Serial No. 34,699.

casing and thermostat mechanism, the cover of the casing being removed,and that of the thermostat being removed; Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsection taken on the line 4% of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is atransverse sectiontaken on the line 55 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on theline 6-6 of Fig. 7; Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 77of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a transverse long1- tudinal section taken on theline 88 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a detail rear elevation of the.thermostatic mechanism to illustrate more clearly the pointer andcalibrations arranged on the back of said mechanism. a Owing to theirreparable damage sometimes worked upon flowers," fruits and the likeby sudden and unexpected fall in temperature I propose to provide athermostatically controlled alarm which is to be V situated in thebed-room of those whose duties compel attendance to such matters, sothat they may be warned in time and thus avert the damage which wouldotherwise result. This alarm consists of a clock mechanism 1, the latterincluding an escapement wheel 2, a spring 3 and gears at controlled bysaid spring and cooperating with said escapement wheel to actuate thelatter. The spring 3 is mounted upon an arbor at to one end of which issecured an operating knob 5. An escapement 6 carrying a clapper 7co-acts in the customary manner with the escapement wheel 2 as will bereadily understood without further description.

The foregoing mechanism is suitably housedin a frameS consisting ofupper and lower suitably spaced plates 9 and 10 re spectively. The lowerplate 10 carries the laterally projecting'feet 11 which are apertured toreceive suitable fastening elements. Loosely mounted upon the arbor 4:intermediate the operating knob thereon and upper plate 9 is a bellcrank 12. This crank 12 has one leg thereof provided with a laterallyprojecting finger 12 adapted to engage the curved extension 13 formed onthe escapement shaft whereby the clapper 7 is maintained in a fixedposition. Under or dinary conditions the alarm is inoperative. The bellcrank 11 which it will be seen performs the functions of a trigger hasan aperture 14 formed in the other leg thereof for a purpose to behereinafter set forth. An

therein.

alarm bell 15 is suitably secured in juxtaposition with respect to theclapper 7 so that when the latter operates it will sound the bell andthus give the desired alarm. The foregoing alarm structure is inclosedin a housing 16 which may be placed in any desired position in thebedroom of the party to be warned. Of course, however, it is to beunderstood that this alarm may be mounted in any manner best suited tocircumstances and conditions.

To enable the bell 15 to be sounded when the temperature falls below apredetermined degree, I provide a thermostat 16 operatively connectedwith the hereinbefore mentioned bell crank 12 to actuate the latter andrelease the escapement mechanism in a manner hereinafter to be setforth. This thermostat consists of an annular casing 17 having one endopen as at 18 and the other end closed by an end plate 18. A cover 19telescopically engages the free edge of the casing 17 and has its flangepartially cut away to form a peripheral slot 19 for a purposehereinafter to be set forth. A spider 20 extends diametrically acrossthe open end of casing 17 and has one extremity thereof extended andlaterally offset to form a foot 21, the latter being apertured as at 22to receive suitable fastening elements by means of which the casing maybe properly supported upon any suitable standard.

An annular plate 23 having a laterally extending peripheral flange 24 tothe free edge of which is secured a diaphragm 25 is positioned withinthe casing intermediate the closed end of the latter and spider 20 asclearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The diaphragm 25 issecured to the flange 24 in such a manner as to absolutely excludeingress of air to the chamber 26 thus formed. By constructing anair-tight chamber in the manner aforesaid it will be obvious that thelatter will contract and ex- I pand in accordance with the contractileand expanding action of the medium inclosed concentrically secured tothe diaphragm 25 and extending laterally therefrom is an externallythreaded pin 27 which latter is adapted to project through the opening28 concentrically formed in end plate 18. A. spring 29 encircles the pin27 and is interposed between the inner surface of the end plate 18 andthe diaphragm 25.

An adjusting nut 30 is engaged with the free end of pin 27 and enablesthe diaphragm 25 to be placed under more or less tension as desireddependent upon the temperature at which the thermostat is desired tooperate. The nut 30 may be formed with a pin at 31 the lower end ofwhich coacts with the calibration formed on the outer surface of endplate 18 as will be readily understood without further description.

The plate 23 of chamber 26 has concentrically affixed thereto by solderor otherwise an annular laterally projecting stud 32 which latter isadapted to project through the annular opening 33 formed in spider 2Ocoincident with the axis of chamber 17. This stud 32 normally projectsabove the upper surface of the spider 20 and performs the functions of astop for a purpose hereinafter to be set forth. A lever 34 is pivotallyconnected at one end to the spider 20 contiguous one extremity thereofas clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7 of the drawings. An aperturedanchorage 35 is formed on the edge of the lever 34 in annular relationwith respect thereto and engages one end of a coil spring 36 the otherend of which is secured to an apertured lug 37 formed on spider 20adjacent the pivotal end of lever 34. As the spring 36 has a tendency toelevate lever 34 I find it expedient to provide a U-shaped guiding plate38 which is integrally formed on the longitudinal edge of the spider 20adjacent the opening therein so that when the lever 34 is disposed inits inoperative position the lower surface thereof will be maintained incontact with the upper surface of spider 20 as will be readilyunderstood without further description. The U-shaped guiding plate 38has its free edge beveled to cooperate with the beveled portion 39 oflever 34 for obvious reasons.

From the foregoing structure it will be seen that as the lever 34 isforced intermediate the lower surface of the guiding plate 38 and theupper surface of the spider 20 the pin 32 of the diaphragm 25 will beclepressed to be released however as soon as the lever 34 has beenproperly disposed beneath guiding plate 38 since the aforesaid pin 32 isnormally disposed in the path of lever 34 the same will be retained inan inoperative position until the pin is depressed which latter can onlyoccur when the chamber 25 contracts.

The free end of lever 34 is apertured as at 40 to receive one end of awire 41 the other extremity of which is passed through an aperture 42 inthe housing 16. The free end of said wire is then fastened to theapertured leg of bell crank 12 by means of the opening therein. Thisarrangement operatively connects the bell crank or trigger 12 with lever34 so that the former and latter will be simultaneously operated.

The thermostat above described may be mounted at a point wherein it isexposed to the elements and would be readily influenced by temperaturechanges. In this connection it is to be noted that inasmuch as the wire41 must extend from the alarm located in the bedroom to the thermostatsituated on the exterior of said room, an opening may be formed in thewindow sash to accommodate the passage of said wire as will be readily'understood without further description.

When the cover 19 is properly positioned upon casing 17 the cutawayportion of this flange will permit the free end of the lever 34 toproject to the exterior of said casing and at the same time allowhorizontal movement on the part of said lever. In this connection it isto be noted that in order to limit the outward movement of the lever 34there is provided a stop 43 formed on spider 20 adjacent the pivoted endof lever 34 as will be readily seen upon reference to Fig. 7 of thedrawings.

In view of the. above structural outline it will be at once apparentthat if the thermostat is standardized to operate at a predeterminedtemperature, when said temperature is reached the chamber 26 willcontract thus withdrawing the pin 32 from the path of lever 34 andallowing the spring 36 to retract said lever. As the lever 34is'retracted it will actuate wire 41 and cause the latter to operatebell crank 12 and disengage the finger 12 thereof from the curved eX-tension on the escapement shaft so that the clock mechanism is thus freeto actuate the clapper and sound the bell which will accordingly warnthe pomologist or florist 1n time to prevent serious injury to the frultor flowers as the case might be. Therefore 1n the light of the above itwill be seen that I have provided a thermostatically controlled alarmwhich is simple, efficient in operation, and absolutely dependable, aswell as one that may be quickly and readily lnstalled and removedwhenever and wherever necessar Although in the foregoing I have setforth certain elements best adapted to perform the functions alloted tothem nevertheless it will be understood that various changes as to form,substance, etc., may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. In a thermostat a pivotally mounted lever, a thermally controlledexpansible and contractible member, a stop connected with said memberand adapted to project in the path of said lever when the thermally controlled member is expanded to releasably maintain the lever ininoperative position, said stop being movable out of the path of saidlever when said member is contracted, and a retractile spring inconnection with said lever to retract it on the release thereof.

9. In a thermostat, a casing,a spider carried thereby and having anopening therein, a stop slidably mounted in said opening, a thermallycontrolled expansible and contractible member connected to actuate saidstop, a pivotally mounted lever carried by said spider, said stop beingadapted to project into the path of said lever to releasably maintain itin inoperative position,

and a spring in connection with said lever to retract it upon thewithdrawal of said stop. i

3. Ina thermostat, a casing having one end open, a spider extendingacross the open end of said casing and having an opening therein, athermally controlled expansible and contraotible member disposed withinsaid casing, a stop slidably mounted in said openin and operativelyconnected with said thermally controlled member, a lever pivotallyconnected at one extremity to said spider, said stop being normallyprojected inthe path of said lever to releasably connect the same ininoperative position, and a retractile spring connecting said lever withsaid spider whereby the former is actuated on withdrawal of said stop.

4. In athermostat, a casing having one end open, a spider extendingacross the open end of said casing and having an opening therein, athermally controlled expansible and contractible member situated in saidcasing beneath said spider, a stop slidably mounted in said opening andconnected with said expansible and contractible member, said stopprojecting in the path of said lever to releasably maintain the latterin inoperative position, a guiding plate in connection with said spiderto retain said lever when the lever is inoperatively disposed, and aretractile spring having one end connected with said lever and the otherend connected with said spider whereby to retract said lever onwithdrawal of said stop.

5. In a thermostat, an annular casing open at one end, a spider disposeddiametrically across the open end of said casing, and having an openingtherein, an annular plate mounted within said casing beneath saidspider, arearwardly projecting peripheral flange formed on said plate,an expansible and contractible diaphragm affixed to the free end of saidflange, an externally threaded pin carried by said diaphragm andprojecting through a concentric opening formed in said casing, a springinterposed between said casing and diaphragm, an adjusting nut on thefree end of said pin, whereby to adjust the tension of said diaphragm, astop slidably mounted in the opening in said spider and having one endconnected with said plate, a lever pivotally mounted on said spider andmovable horizontally thereover, said stop normally projecting in thepath of said lever to normally maintain the same in operative position,and a spring connection between said lever and spider to retract theformer upon withdrawal of said stop.

6. In a thermostat, an annular casing open at one end, a spider disposeddiametrically across the open end of said casing, and havmg therein anopening, an annular plate mounted within said casing beneath saidspider, a rearwardly projecting peripheral flange formed on said plate,an expansible and contractible diaphragm afiixed to the free end of saidflange, an externally threaded pin carried by said diaphragm andprojecting through a concentric opening formed in said casing, a springinterposed between said casing and diaph 'agm, an adjusting-nut on thefree end of said pin whereby to adjust the tension of said diaphragm, astop slidably mounted in the opening in said spider and having one endconnected with said plate, a lever pivotally mounted 011 said spider andmovable hori- Zontally thereover, said stop normally projecting in thepath of said lever to normally maintain the same in operative position,a guide plate formed on one edge of said spider, and adapted to engagesaid lever when the latter is in inoperative position, and a springconnection between said lever and spider to retract the former uponwithdrawal of said stop.

7. A device of the character described comprising an annular casinghaving one end open, a spider disposed upon the open end of said casingand extending diametrically thereacross, said spider having therein anopening, an annular plate situated in said casing beneath said spider,saidplate having a rearwardly extending peripheral flange, an expansibleand contractible diaphragm aflixed to the free edge of said flange, anexternally threaded pin formed on and laterally projecting from saiddiaphragm, and through an opening formed in said casing, a springenveloping said pin and interposed between the casing and diaphragm, anadjusting nut engaged with the free end of said pin whereby to adjustthe tension of said diaphragm, a laterally projecting stop formed onsaid plate, a lever pivotally connected to said spider and movablehorizontally thereover, said stop projecting through the opening in saidspider and into the path of said lever to releasably maintain the latterin inoperative position, a U-shaped plate formed on one edge 01'' saidspider to engage said lever when the latter is inoperatively disposed, aspring connection between said lever and spider to retract the formerupon withdrawal of said stop, and a closure for the open end of saidcasing.

8. In a thermostat the combination of a casing, a cover telescopicallyengaged therewith and having a peripheral slot therein, a spider mountedin said casing and extending transversely thereacross and projectingthrough the slot in the cover thereof, the projecting end of said spiderbeing ofiiset and apertured to form a support engaging foot, athermallycontrolled expansible and contractible member mounted in said casingbelow said spider and having an outwardly extending pin thereinprojectable through an opening in said spider, a lever pivoted at oneend on said spider and movable horizontally thereover, said pin beingprojectable into the path of said lever on the expansion of saidthermally controlled member for holding said lever in retractedposition, a guide plate carried by said spider for engagement with saidlever, a stop carried by said spider to limit the movement of said leverin one direction, and a coiled spring connected with one edge of saidlever and with said spider and adapted to move said lever away from saidguide plate when said pin is moved out of the path of the lever on thecontraction of said thermally controlled member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. EGAN. Witnesses PAUL W. EGAN, R. T. GILES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I1. 0. i

